Dark Ride Read online

  “Jack?”

  He turned to see the fifth grade girl. He couldn't recall if he'd ever spoken to her before.“Wanna skate?”

  The invitation evoked a tingling feeling in his face—a couple skate with a girl.

  “Umm….” he stuttered. “I'm not a great skater.”

  “That's okay, neither am I.”

  With a nod, Jack took his position beside her, almost tripping as he stepped down onto the hardwood floor. The song was by a band called R.E.O. Speedwagon. The floor was dark, lit only by dim red lights that hazed off and on. Jenny reached out her hand and clasped it with Jack's.

  This was a first, and a totally new sensation filled Jack's body. He felt flushed, but he liked it. Unsure of his footing with the boat-like skates, Jenny steadied him more than once. It was total euphoria. But, just as Jack allowed himself to let the sensation wrap around him, he felt a heavy blow in the small of his back, which caused him to topple backwards, and his head struck the hardwood floor.

  Instantly, the music stopped and the lights flashed on. Mr. King, the sixth grade physical education teacher, was already kneeling over him.

  “You okay, Jack?”

  Lindsey Cho was there as well, a tiny fifth grader who was apologizing over his dazed head.

  Great, thought Jack, I've been pummeled by a fifth grade girl. Of all the embarrassing things. He replied, “I'm fine, just help me up.” He grumbled with a touch of anger.

  Then he heard, “Jack, Jack!”

  Oh no, realized Jack.Mom's here.His mother, who was chaperoning the event, was running out to him. Three other male teachers had joined the rescuers. Before Jack could protest, the men lifted him and carried him to a bench in the food court like pallbearers at a funeral. This was beyond humiliating. The whole time, his mother wailed, “Jack, are you okay?”

  After being laid out on the bench, Jack caught a glimpse of Jenny. Seeing that he was okay, she skated off. Jack never spoke to her again, except for once when she asked him if he could give a note to another boy.

  During the whole bus ride back to Cassidy Falls from the skating party, Mason had dogged Jack about the ordeal. And, now, as luck would have it, when he is perhaps in the throes of his first real crush, Mason, instead not Jack, is enjoying the ride beside Amy.

  The pirate ship slows and creaks to a stop.

  “Well, if we still have time tonight, we'll have to ride Bigfoot's Rapids,” Mason crows in high spirits. “But now it's time we hit the Forrest.”

  Mason's tone implies that all is good between Jack and him, but just to make sure, Jack approaches his friend and asks, “Ready to roll, Mason?”

  “Yep, are you?”

  “Of course.”

  “Just watch where you step, Jack. Don't trip.”

  Chapter 14

  In the back corner of the park, the Enchanted Forrest casts a dark shadow over a large swath of the area. The foursome approaches the ride and immediately Jack knows something is wrong. The lights are off. No music pipes through the outdoor speakers. There are no screams of fear or cries of delight.

  In front of the ride, Jack notices Clyde speaking to another employee.

  “Well I don't think we should try again.” It's the girl speaking. Jack does not like what he hears.

  The trusty old man sees them approach.

  “Jack, good to see you, captain. I was wonderin’ if you were gonna come see me before we closed.”

  “Clyde, what's up? Why are the lights off?”

  The old man gives an exaggerated sigh and wipes his forehead with a towel. “Well, Jack, we've been having a heckuva time with the ol’ girl tonight. Electrical problems. Every time we think we got her fixed, the blasted power shuts off again.

  No, not tonight, thinks Jack. “Are you serious?” he asks, “Is it closed for good?”

  “Well, yes, I was just about to call it a night, in fact. Probably won't have her running again by the time we shut the park down.”

  “Clyde, you have to let us ride one last time. With the park closing and all, we just have to.”

  “I know how you feel, cap. It's just the Forrest has been acting strange for the last two days. I would hate for you kids to get stuck in there.”

  “But this is our last night. You know how much I will miss this ride.” Jack shoots his best puppy dog eyes at the old man.

  “There's really little I can do. This one's got us over a barrel.” Clyde looks at his watch, then at Jack. “I tell you what. Only for you, captain, will I try to crank her back up again. It will take a while, so you kids go have fun for 20 minutes or so. Come back here, and if we have power I'll let you take her for one last spin.”

  “Great, let's go ride Bigfoot's Rapids, then we can get back to the Forrest,” Mason suggests.

  There is nothing on earth at that moment that Jack wants more than one last trip on the Dark Ride. Clyde has given them all a glimmer of hope. “Thanks, Clyde,” says Jack. Clyde offers a short wave as the kids move along.

  Mason pulls Jack aside. “Good job with the codger back there.”

  Jack feels relieved that Mason seems to have forgotten about his missteps.

  “If you hadn't pulled that off, I would have never forgiven you for letting us miss our chance. Your little trip and the whole pirate ship deal could have cost us our shot.”

  So much for Mason letting it go, thinks Jack.

  Chapter 15

  Jack is trying to figure out some way to get Mason off of his back about the whole Amy situation. He thinks, Please come through for me Clyde, or I will never hear the end of this.

  “One dolla', a throw. Win the lady a prize!”

  A row of carnival games stretches out in front of teens. The mid-way games line the path to the Rapids. College-aged workers bark at and challenge perspective contestants to test their skills while blinking lights and fanciful decorations enhance the lure of the games.

  “It's so simple, a baby can do it blindfolded. Toss the ring over any one of these bottles!”

  “Shoot the ball through the hoop. Win the lion!”

  “One dollar for a lifetime of memories!”

  Jack asks Scotty, “You think Mason can make it past without playing one of these mind-numbing games?” Then he realizes, That's it.

  If there is one thing the taller, faster, and stronger Mason Chick enjoys, it's showing off. It comes naturally to Mason, alpha male, son of local high school sports legend Titus Chick. While Jack could never hope to equal his friend on the physical fields of athletic combat, Jack knew for sure he had the edge with his mind.

  This is my chance, thinks Jack, who knows that the large stuffed animal prizes are like precious metals to Mason. He would win one and almost always force Scotty to lug the thing around the park—that is, unless a pretty girl was walking by. It was like Mason thought a gorgeous high school cheerleader-type would see that Mason had won a stuffed hippo and fall head over heels in love with him. Last summer, Mason won a huge purple gorilla that was so big, it took up two seats in Mr. Chick's BMW. Jack wondered where in the world Mason put all of those things. He imagined that Mason had a garage full of the stuffed relics.

  “You there with the lady, why don't you win her a nice big stuffed bear?” Jack turns to see who the barker is talking to. But the barker stares straight at him. He realizes that he is with a lady: Amy is right beside him. Jack watches as Amy blushes.

  “Come on, strapping lad like you, make the lady's day. Simply shoot the water in the clown's mouth.”

  “Uh, Mason,” says Jack. “Why don't you play? I'll pay.”

  Like a fish going after a worm, Mason jumps at the offer.

  “Okay, Jack, deal…but if I win I get the prize.”

  “Of course,” Jack relents. Mason is playing right into his hands.

  Mason hops on a stool in front of the “Crazy Clowns” booth. Jack, Amy, and Scotty prepare to watch Mason compete against a couple of older teens dressed in black with piercings, and all sorts of various tattoos arran
ged in scattered patterns on every visible inch of flesh on their arms and legs. Seated next to them, also competing for the prize, is a small freckle-faced boy, probably around eight years old, who is being watched with one eye by his mother standing a mere two feet behind him. Her other eye rests firmly on the two blacked-out teens. A voice yells at Jack from behind. “You there, don't let your friend have all the fun.” Jack turns to see another park employee motioning toward him. It's Colton Spurlock, the very same one who his sister gushes over. He stands in a booth manning his own game of chance.

  Oh no, thinks Jack. He could blow the whole evening. What if he recognizes me? He'll text Blair.

  “Come on, kid. Think you can outwit me?”

  Kid, huh? thinks Jack, who is actually relieved that Colton has no clue about his identity.

  Normally, Jack would have ignored the challenge, but the prospect of perhaps outwitting Blair's love interest and maybe impressing Amy in the process is too much to ignore. Jack shuffles towards the booth followed by Amy and Scotty. Their curiosity is peaked as well.

  “So what's the game?” Jack asks.

  “It's called the shell game, kid. All you have to do is keep your eye on the ball. I will place it underneath one of these three cups and then shuffle them. When I'm finished, simply show me which cup hides the ball and you win a prize.”

  “Sounds easy enough,” Jack declares, laying a dollar on the counter.

  “Pay attention, Jack, these guys are good,” Scotty points out.

  Colton places the ball under a cup and begins to whirl the cups in and out of one another. At first Jack has a hard time keeping his eye on the ball, but as Colton continues to maneuver the cups, Jack's confidence rises. Finally he stops.

  “So which cup is it under?” Colton asks with a cocky grin.

  “That one.” Jack points to the cup on the left.

  The smile on Colton's face disappears. “No way!” He lifts the cup Jack selected, revealing the red ball.

  “Good going, Jack,” Amy says and laughs.

  Jack beams with pride.

  Obviously not pleased, Colton continues, “Good job, kid. How about best two out of three? You're not going to be so lucky twice.”

  As Jack ponders playing again, Mason strolls up to the party. He is carrying a huge blue stuffed bear. Jack looks to Scotty, who marvels at Mason, not realizing he has been doomed to lug a bear the size of a medium-sized dog around the park for the next two hours.

  Colton coaxes Jack, trying to win back his pride. “Look, I'll let you play for free. You win again, and I'll give you the biggest prize I've got.”

  With Mason already winning the bear, Jack has no desire for the gang to be saddled with two such monstrosities. However, he likes the feeling of besting the older boy. It gives him something to tease Blair about.

  “You're on,” he accepts.

  Colton repeats the shuffling again, but this time he's faster, concentrating on making it extra hard. When he is finished, he confidently announces, “No way you followed that.”

  Jack shrugs and calmly points to the cup in the middle. This time Colton is incredulous. “No way!” He lifts the cup, and once again, the ball is revealed.

  “You've got to be kidding me. No one has ever been able to beat me twice!”

  “I guess I've got beginner's luck,” says Jack, who likes this game that he is obviously good at.

  “Wow, Jack, you're a natural,” says Scotty, applauding.

  “What prize do you want?” the defeated Colton asks in an irritated voice.

  Jack looks at Amy and asks, “You want something?”

  A small blush of red appears on the girl's cheeks. “Thanks, but no thanks. I don't need another stuffed animal.”

  “Come on, Jack. Get that big orange rhino,” encourages Mason, who points to the colossal beast hanging above their heads.

  “Uh, no thanks,” Jack declines.

  “What? Come on, chicks dig these things.” Colton pats his blue bear.

  “But, you won. You need to choose something,” Spurlock offers.

  Jack thinks for a moment, looking at the cups. “I tell you what, do you have another set of those cups and a ball. I think I like this game?”

  “Yea, we've got plenty of them. You want a set? You can have one. I'm sure the boss would rather part with a set of these cheap, ten-cent cups over a five-dollar animal.” Colton ducks behind the counter and pulls out a set of grey cups and a bright red ball.

  Jack thanks him and places them into his backpack.

  “You should have taken the rhino,” Mason advises.

  Jack ignores the statement but makes sure to stroke Mason's ego. “So, I see we both won. You sure know how to play these games.”

  “It was nothing—like taking candy from a baby.” Mason beams with pride. Looking down at his prize, he declares, “I think I'll call him Lucky. Here ya go, Scotty. Take care of this for a while for me.”

  As they head off, Mason's glowing, like he just won a championship or something. He's even strutting. Jack and Amy share a glance and then a chuckle at Mason's expense.

  Chapter 16

  Bigfoot's Rapids is one of the “improvements” Newcastle, Inc. brought to the park. A large whitewater raft ride. It's not something anyone would expect from a small, local amusement park. Nonetheless, Story brook Hollow has it, a hulking attraction that roughly covers a third of the park's land. For a while it drew the crowds as thousands of people surged into the park the first summer it was running to get a taste of the Falls, but the novelty wore off quickly. This resulted in Newcastle, Inc. not spending any more money on new attractions from that point on.

  Amy is waltzing on cloud nine. This night has been perfect for her. That her parents had let her go off on her own had been a huge victory, but on top of that, Jack Braddock is paying a lot of attention to her. While she would never admit it publically, she had liked the boy ever since she was old enough to like boys—about the time she was five. Now, she allows herself to wonder, Maybe Jack is interested in me?

  She stays close to Jack in an effort to avoid being stuck beside Mason on another ride. To her, Mason Chick is the spoiled brat who tormented her childhood. She can't even begin to count the number of times he had destroyed her toys playing Godzilla with her Barbies. When this happened, Scotty would never say a word, but Jack, on the other hand, would at least try to distract Mason. He had always been so nice.

  While waiting in the small line at the Rapids, Amy sees Mason grab the bear from her brother. Not knowing why, she looks around.

  “Nice bear, Chick,” The voice belongs to a slender blonde-haired girl wearing a button-up white polo top and a plaid skirt that Amy would feel indecent wearing in public. It is the one and only Lauren Van Wormer. The girl stands just ahead of them in line, flanked by a redhead and brunette. Lauren Van Wormer, who's in the ninth grade, is that type of girl who sets such an unreachable standard of wealth and beauty that even seniors in high school tremble in her wake.

  “This thing? Yeah, I didn't want to have to lug it around, but Braddock begged me to win something.”

  What a jerk, surmises Amy. Does he think they're impressed?

  Shooting a glance at Scotty, she sees her brother mesmerized by the blonde. Then she looks at Jack, who looks like even he is trying to push out his chest. Boys, she thinks.

  “We tried to get our parents to take us to the mall, but they were dead set on making us come here one last time. Lame, right?” Van Wormer makes a face like she's just smelled some bad cheese.

  “Yeah, you said it,” Mason blurts. “We got stuck here, too.”

  Amy says to herself, Won't this line move any faster? What is going on? The park is nearly empty, what is with this line?

  The redhead says, “Oh, how nice you've brought your baby sis to tag along, Scotty. How cute.”

  The wry grins of the girls send Amy into a helpless tailspin.

  “It's Annie, right?” the redhead concludes.

  “Her n
ame is Amy,” asserts Jack.

  “Oh that's right, Jack…Amy. Well, Amy, I hope you are tall enough to ride some of the big girl rides,” Lauren coaxes.

  Mason gives the girl a chuckle, acknowledging that he is on their level.

  Trying to hide, praying that they will move along, Amy turns away from the girls. Why would she think anyone would be attracted to her? These girls have it all. Amy chides herself, thinking, “What could Jack Braddock, or any boy for that matter, see in me? Everything about me is nothing compared to them. These ugly freckles, auburn hair, off-the-rack T-shirt, and khaki shorts.

  The ride attendant breaks the uncomfortable silence. “You guys are next. How many in your party?”

  “Three.” And with that, the girls walk forward and into one of the large black rafts.

  “See you later, Mason.”

  “Yeah, cool.”

  Stepping up in line, the four of them await their turn.

  “Don't mind them, Amy,” Jack says as he looks at her, “They say that stuff to make themselves feel better.”

  Amy tells herself, But they are better.

  “Okay, we're up, Amy…. Amy?”

  Amy is torn away from her own self-loathing by Jack's repeated calling of her name.

  Jack waves and points her to a couple of seats on the far side of the raft. Scotty and Mason are already buckled and ready to ride. The large bear is strapped across Scotty's chest. An older couple fills out the raft. After Jack and Amy are settled, the raft stutters and shakes down a ramp into the man-made river.